Maxwell
sat in the dock with his hands covering his face as prosecutor Geoff
Horgan, SC, described Ms Maxwell's death.

Mr Horgan said Maxwell told police he crushed sleeping tablets and other
medication, and gave them to his wife with water.

When she was unconscious, he placed a plastic bag over her head and slowly
piped gas into the bag. The couple, of Kew, were at their caravan at Phillip
Island.

Mr Horgan said a favourite piece of music, from a classical compilation,
was playing. Defence counsel Chris Dane, QC, said the couple had read euthanasia
literature and appeared to have followed it precisely.

Mr Dane said Maxwell had dissuaded his wife from earlier trying to starve
herself to death, but had responded to her wishes out of intense love. He
said Margaret Maxwell was frail physically, but powerful mentally. "This
death was in fact planned by (Ms Maxwell) for several months, but by the
prisoner for only a short period of time," he told Justice John Coldrey.

Later, he added: "The power of genuine love when aroused by the circumstances
of extreme pain and suffering may sometimes blind a person to the ultimate
sanctity of life.

"That is what has happened here. He has lost sight of (that) sanctity."

Witnesses who gave statements to police described Ms Maxwell as a private
and powerful person who rigorously pursued a treatment regime.

Mr Dane said Maxwell was known as genuine and moral. He loved his wife and
was her carer. Mr Dane asked Justice Coldrey not to send Maxwell to jail.

The maximum sentence for aiding and abetting a suicide was five years' imprisonment,
but Maxwell had confessed, had shown remorse and had no previous convictions,
he said.

Justice Coldrey said the case was tragic. He continued bail for Maxwell,
pending sentencing on a date to be fixed.